Verdict Games Verdict Games

Hollow Knight

Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.

2017 Action Adventure Indie ★ Overwhelmingly Positive
Hollow Knight

Read the Honest Review

The good and the not-so-good — honest, with reasoning.

Guides

Guides

guide

Hollow Knight Exploration Route and Ability Unlock Guide Order

Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania where each movement ability you gain opens up new places. Which order to unlock things in to avoid getting stuck is easy to misjudge at first. This article lays out the order for movement abilities — the Mothwing Cloak dash, Mantis Claw wall jump, double jump — plus how to upgrade your Nail and collect maps, kept spoiler-light and practical.

walkthrough

Hollow Knight Beginner Guide|Early Game and How to Avoid Getting Lost

Hollow Knight's early game rewards buying maps and building your character before rushing bosses. The game gives almost no hand-holding, so locking down Cornifer's maps is the single most important habit. Don't force boss fights — collect Charms and notches first, then return stronger. This guide walks you through the no-lost early game.

guide

Hollow Knight Boss Guide|Early Bosses and the Three Rules of Combat

Hollow Knight's bosses are tough but never unfair. Learn the patterns, dodge instead of greeding hits, time your Focus heals carefully, and stack Charms for support — these three habits crack any boss. This guide covers the three rules of boss combat, the key early bosses, and the difference between required and optional fights.

guide

Hollow Knight Best Charms|Early-Game Picks and Strong Combinations

Charms are how you customize your character in Hollow Knight. Faster healing, longer attack range, stronger spells — the combination defines your playstyle. Survival-leaning picks like Soul Catcher and Quick Focus carry the early game. This guide breaks down the strongest Charms, the best combos, and how to think about notch budgets.

Overview

What's the Game?

Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.

Vast interconnected map

A huge world that opens up as you gain new movement abilities.

Challenging boss fights

Pattern-based fights that feel earned. The catharsis of a clear is unmatched.

Charm builds

Combine charms for attack, healing, or exploration loadouts to suit your style.

Hand-drawn world

Beautifully illustrated environments and haunting music create a unique atmosphere.

Non-linear exploration

Tackle areas in your own order. Hidden content rewards exploration.

Massive value

Cheap, but easily 30+ hours for thorough playthroughs.

Trailer

Trailer

Release Trailer Watch on Steam

Screenshots

Screenshots

Languages

Supported Languages

Language Interface Audio Subtitles
日本語
Deutsch
English
Español
Français
Italiano
한국어
Português (Brasil)
Русский
简体中文
繁體中文

Spec

System Requirements

Windows

Minimum

Minimum: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 version 21H1 (build 19043) or newer Processor: Intel Core i3-3240, AMD FX-4300 Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: GeForce GTX 560 Ti (1GB), Radeon HD 7750 (1GB) DirectX: Version 10 Storage: 9 GB available space

Recommended

Recommended: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 version 21H1 (build 19043) or newer Processor: Intel Core i5-3470 Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB), Radeon R9 380 (2GB) DirectX: Version 10 Storage: 9 GB available space

macOS

Minimum

Minimum: OS: Big Sur 11 or newer Processor: Intel Core i3 Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: Metal capable Intel and AMD GPUs Storage: 9 GB available space

Recommended

Recommended: OS: Big Sur 11 or newer Processor: Intel Core i5, Apple M1 Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: Metal capable Intel and AMD GPUs, Apple M1 Storage: 9 GB available space

Linux

Minimum

Minimum: OS: Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 24.04 (64bit) Processor: Intel Core i3-3240, AMD FX-4300 Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: GeForce GTX 560 Ti (1GB), Radeon HD 7750 (1GB) Storage: 9 GB available space

Recommended

Recommended: OS: Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 24.04 (64bit) Processor: Intel Core i5 Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB), Radeon R9 380 (2GB) Storage: 9 GB available space

Achievements

Achievement Highlights

Blessed Blessed
Charmed Charmed
Enchanted Enchanted
Falsehood Falsehood
Masked Masked
Protected Protected
Soulful Soulful
Strength Strength
Test of Resolve Test of Resolve
Worldsoul Worldsoul

FAQ

FAQ

Yes. UI and subtitles are available in both English and Japanese.
A 2D Metroidvania set in a vast underground kingdom. Unlock abilities to expand your map, beat tough bosses, and unravel the kingdom mysteries. Beautiful hand-drawn art and challenging but fair combat.
Challenging but never unfair. Charms (talismans) let you customize your build, and learning boss patterns is the path to victory. Beginners should focus on exploration and charm collection before forcing bosses.
No — buy-to-play (around 14.99 USD on Steam). The price-to-content ratio is exceptional with dozens of hours of content.
Do not force bosses early. Gather charms and notches (charm slots) to strengthen your build. Learn focus (healing) timing, expand the map at your own pace.

Data last updated: ・Information based on store APIs

More Games

More Games